Air control means for relooping machines



Dec. 20, 1949 w. o. RuNclE AIR GONTROL 'MEANS FOR RELOOPING MACHINESFiled June `9, 1947 Patented Dec. 20,y 1949 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE4Walter 0. Runcie, Lima, Peru Application June 9, 1947, `-Serial No.753,476

(Cl. ,G6-1.5)

2-Claims. 1

This invention relates tto air control means for pneumatic reloopingapparatus for picking up dropped Vstitches in stockings or other:knitted fabric andconstitutes simplicatio-n and improvements over themeans embodied in my prior U. S. Patents -for relooping apparatus, Nos.2,415,111 and 2,418,483, :granted February 4, 1947, and April 8, '1947,respectively.

7object of this invention is to provide pneumatic relooping apparatuscomprising a ibuilt-in sewing machine air pump interconnected with areloopin'g needle :assembly by means of a flexible tube, with improvedand 'simplified air control and regulating means, said meansco-operating to ensure uniformity of the pulsating fair impulsesgenerated by the pump and iaultless `cperation of 4the relooping needle.

Another object of this invention `is to provide a small breather orificein the wall of the 4pump cylinder at a point just above the upperextremity of the Vneedle `bar or piston vof the pump, when the latter isat its lowest point of reciprocation or lower dead center. At thisposition oi the needle bar, luidcommunication is automatically established between the interior of 'the pump cylinder v and the atmosphere.Therefore, at the end of 'the suction stroke `or at the beginning ofthecornpress-ion stroke of the reciprocating needle Vbar or piston, the airpressure Within the iluid loperating space orcircuit of the reloopingapparatus is equal to the atmospheric pressure. Abreathing action takesplace through the orifice once during each cycle `of operation of thereciprocating needle bar or piston, thereby ensuring a full 4cylinder ofatmospheric air at Athe beginning of Ythe compression stroke of thereciprocating piston, which Ain turn ensures uniformly generated airimpulses by the pump and satisfactory Operation of the relooping needle.The breather oriiice also `-pre vents the creationof -a partial vacuumWithin the fluid operating circuit of the relooping apparatus duringoperation.

Alfurther object 'of this vinvention is yto provide a hollow cylindricalor annularoil retaining packing ring of felt 'or -other suitableresilient material, which is inserted lnan annulargroove provided forits reception, within and near the lower end of `the pump cylinder. Thisdevice ensures ample lubrication of the `pump and also functions as aneiective air seal.

A further object of this invention is to provide a relooping needleassembly in which the cubic capacity of its cylinder bears a definiterelationship to the cubic capacity of the sewing machine air pump. 'To`provide for adequate control and regulation of the air actuating therelooping needle, the pump vshould have a capacit-y -approximately twiceas much as the 'capacity of the relooping needle assembly. This excessair pressure'also compensates .for any leakage of air that may occurwithin the `iiuid operating circuit from any cause.

Astill further object of this vinvention is `to provide an improved dualpurpose, manually controlled air regulatcrfofextremely simpleconstruction,the operation of which requires a minimum of physicaleffort on the part of the operator. The device consists of lan orificein the head ofthe cylinder of the -relooping needle assembly, itspurpose 4being to establish fluid communication between the interior ofthe cylinder and the atmosphere. The outer wall of the orice iscountersunk to provide for finely regulating the stroke of the knittingneedle, by simply varying the 'pressure of the thumb or other digit 'ofthe operators hand, on the countersunk orice. By allowing all 4thepulsating air generated by the pump -to escape through the orice intothe atmosphere, bysimply raising the thumb, the needle ceases to operateland by covering the orifice with the thumb, 'the needle again resumesits normal operation. It is therefore, not .necessary to stop the:operation 4of the .air pump while operating the relooping needle, as.is customary with the use of :special .electrically driven reloopingmachines. Thisidual purpose air regulator provides `the means for (l)instantly starting and stopping the knitn ting needle by closing or.opening `conirnunication between the Vinterior of the vcylinder of therelooping needle assembly and the atmosphere and `(2) for .iinelyregulating the length Aof stroke of the reciprocating knitting needle,bysimply varying `the pressure `of a ydigit of the operators hand on thecountersunk oriiice.

With the foregoing objects and others which may hereinafter appear, theinvention consists of the novel construction, combination andVarrangement of parte as will be 'more specifically referred to andillustrated in the accompanying draWingaWhereinis shown an embodiment ofthe invention, lout it is to vbe understood that changes, modificationsand variations may be resorted to which fia-1l within the scope of theinvention as claimed.

1n `the drawings:

'Figure 1 :is a detail elevation, partly in section, ofthe head of asewing 'machine with the cover removed therefrom, showing the built-.inkair pump linter-connected by means l.of a zlfexible tube with arelooping needle assembly constructed according to an embodiment of thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a vertical elevation of the cylinder of the air pump,removed from the sewing machine, and shows the improved breather orificeforming a part of my invention.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevan tion of the upperportion of the relooping needle assembly.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation, partly in section,of the upper portion of the relooping needle assembly, showing the dualcontrol countersunk orifice of my invention and the manner in which itis operated by means of the thumb and index finger.

Figure 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary sectional elevation of asmall portion of the head of the relooping needle assembly, showing ingreater detail the dual air control countersunk orifice forming a partof my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral I ydesignates generally the headof a sewing machine of conventional construction, ywhich carries thedrive shaft II. A plate I2 is secured to the shaft I I, and plate I2 hasextended therefrom an eccentrically disposed crank pin I3 on which oneend of a link I4 is rockably mounted. The opposite end of link I4 isalso rockably mounted `on a pin (not shown) extending rearwardly from acollar I5 which encircles and is adjustably secured to the needle barI6. Needle bar I6 is vertically slidable in a lower bearing I'I formedas part of the head IIL-and needle bar I5 is also slidable in acylindrical sleeve I8 depending from an enlargement I9 formed as part ofthe upper portion of head Il). Sleeve I8 constitutes not only the guidefor needle bar I5, but also oonstitutes an air pumping cylinder, andneedle bar Iii constitutes not only a needle carrier, but alsoconstitutes an air pumping piston. Sleeve I8 is counterbored at itsupper end, as indicated by the numeral 20, to receive a tightly ttingplug 2|, said plug providing lan airtight seal to form the head of thecylinder of the pump. Plug 2 I, at its upper end, is -provided with anintegral nipple 22. The counterbore 20 in sleeve I8, extends a shortdistance below the lower extremity of plug 2|, thereby providing anannular` -oil chamber 23 within the sleeve I8. Needle bar I6, isprovided near its upper end with a pair of lubricating grooves 24. Anlannular groove 25, is provided within and near the lower end of sleevei8 to receive an annular oil retaining felt ring 26, which co-operatingwith chamber 23 within sleeve I8 at the base of plug 2| and oil grooves24 near the upper end of needle bar I6, provide triple means for amplelubrication and effective airtightness of the pump.

For simplicity of description, the needle bar I6 Will hereinafter bereferred to as piston I6 and sleeve I8 as cylinder I8. Needle bar I6,and sleeve I8 slightly modied, constitute the elements of the pump.

A small breather orifice 21 is provided in the Iwall of cylinder I8 withthe object of periodically establishing fluid communication between thein terior of the pump cylinder I8 and the atmosphere. This actionyoccurs at the beginning of the compression stroke of the reciprocatingpisn ton I6, during every cycle of its operation. The reciprocatingpiston I6 `and the breather orice 21, constitute a simple automaticslide valve and provide the means of accurately regulating the pulsatingair pressure generated by the pump, automatically and instantaneously.This simple air control mechanism also prevents the formation of apartial vac-uum Within the fluid operating [circuit of the reloopingapparatus, thereby allowing the pump to generate a well regulated iiowof pulsating air pressure.

Nipple 22 of cylinder I8 `of the air pump, is inter-connected by meansof the flexible tube 28 to nipple 28 of the relooping needle assembly30, for operating said assembly by the pulsating air impulses generatedby the pump. Nipple 29, forms `an integral part of screw-plug 3|, thelatter engaging corresponding screw threads in the head of cylinder 32of relooping needle assembly 30. The head of cylinder 32 is providedwith a pair of diametrically opposed spaced concave faced discs 33a and33h Which are integral with cylinder 32. Concave faced discs 33a and33h, provide the means for holding and manipulating the relooping needleassembly 3e between the thumb Y and the index nger Z respectively, ofthe operator, as shown in Figure 4. Within cylinder 32, slides a pistonrod 34 which carries at its upper end, la cupped leather piston 35. Thelower end of piston rod 34, has secured thereto a slidable latch needle36. Piston rod 34 which is hollow is free to slide longitudinally withincylindrical bearing 31, but is prevented from turning by the engagementof Din-screw 38 with slot 39 of piston rod 34. One end of a helicalcompression spring 48 engages the under side of cupped leather piston 35within cylinder 32, and its opposite end engages the lower end wall ofcylinder 32. A short helical bumper spring 4|, is attached to the lowerend of screw-plug 3|, to cushion the piston rod 34 against shock on itsreturn stroke.

An improved dual purpose air control orifice 42, is provided in the headof the relooping needle assembly 3D, said orice 42 being obliquelydisposed relative to the head of cylinder 32, and extends from a pointon the lower part of the concave faced disc 33a, through the head ofcylinder 32, to a point within and near the upper' end of said cylinder.The upper extremity of the wall of orifice 42, located at the lower partof the concave faced disc 33a, is countersunk as shown at 43. Orifice42, provides the means for manually establishing iiuid communicationbetween the interior of cylinder 32 and the atmosphere, whereby thesliding latch knitting needle 367 may be instantly started or stoppedwhile the air pump continues to operate. The operation of the knittingneedle 36, is always under perfect control of the operator. Thecombination of the orifice 42 with its countersunk aperture 43, providesdual air control means (1) for finely regulating the length of stroke ofthe reciprocating knitting needle 36 and (2) for instantaneouslystarting and stopping the action of said needle.

In the use and operation of this invention, the sewing machine is set inmotion Iby means of the usual foot treadle, or by means of an electricmotor. Compressed air impulses are therebir generated by thereciprocation of piston I6 within cylinder I8 of the pump, saidpulsating air impulses causing the piston rod 34 of the relooping needleassembly 30, to reciprocate in unison with the piston I of the pump.Co-operative |action of the lubricating grooves 24 on piston I6,together with oil groove 23 and annular groove with its oil retainingfelt ring 26, within cylinder I8, provide ample and continuouslubrication for @and effective airtightness of the pump. The breatherIorifice 21, provided in the Wall of the cylinder I8, ensures automaticregulation Iand control of the ,pulsating air impulses generated 4by thepump, because, |at the end of the suction stroke, or at the beginning ofthe compression str-oke of the reciprocating piston I6, communication isinstantaneously and automatically established between the interior ofthe cylinder I8 and the atmosphere. Therefore, any tendency towards thebuilding up of a partial vacuum With in the iiuid operating circuit isimmediately nullied, and the circuit is automatically nlled withatmospheric air at the beginning of each cycle of operation of thereciprocating piston IB.

Due to the fact that the capacity of the cylinder 32 of the reloopingneedle assembly 3E! is alpproximately one half of the capacity of thecylinder I8 of the pump, suflicient pulsating air pressure in excess ofthat required for the normal operation of the Vrelooping needle assembly30, is generated by the pump, to ensure `proper operation and allow ofadequate control of the knitting needle 36.

The dual purpose manual air control and regulating means incorporatedwith the relooping needle assembly 82, provides the operator with themeans for effortless control of the knitting needle 35. All controls,which. include starting, stopping and regulating the length of stroke ofthe knitting needle 35, are eected simply by grasping the concave faceddiscs 33a and 33h of the relooping needle assembly 38, between the thumbY and index finger Z respectively, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings.Using the upper edge of concave faced disc 33a as a fulcrum X and thethumb Y as a lever, the countersunk orice 42 is closed or opened by theball of the thumb Y, to start or stop the action of the knitting needle36. Regulation of the length of stroke of the knitting needle 3b, isaccomplished very simply, by varying the pressure of the thumb Y on thecountersunk orifice 42, this action allows of fine regulation of the airthat L a number of inter-dependent air control means to facilitate theoperation of pneumatic relooping apparatus.

What I claim is:

l. A relooping needle assembly, comprising a cylinder, a piston slidablein said cylinder, a needle connected to and movable with said piston, ahead on one end of said cylinder formed with a fluid passage axiallythereof, and a pair of supporting members carried by said head, saidhead having a lateral passage extending from the top end of saidcylinder and terminating in one of said supporting members forcommunicating the interior of the cylinder with the atmos- L phere, theouter end of said passage at said one supporting member beingcountersunk, closing of said outer end of said lateral passage effectingmaximum reciprocation of said piston, and cornplete opening of saidlateral passage effecting stoppage of said piston.

2. In a relooping needle assembly, a cylinder, a piston slidable in saidcylinder, a spring constantly urging said piston toward the inner end ofsaid cylinder, and a pair of dished :finger grasping lugs carried by theinner end of said cylinder, a passage extending from said cylinder andthrough at least one lug for communicating said cylinder with theatmosphere, the outer end of said passage being countersunk and adaptedto be closed by a digit engaging thereover, complete removal of thedigit from said passage effectinCr stoppage of said piston, and partialremoval of the digit from said passage effecting reduced reciprocationof said piston.

WALTER O. RUNCIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,399,329 Runcie et al. Dec. 4,1945 2,415,111 Runcie Feb. 4, 1947 2,418,483 Runcie Apr. 8, 1947 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 361,288 Italy July 18, 1938 835,215 FranceSept. 19, 1938

